Epipremnum Pinnatum is always a beautiful addition to any home garden. This genus has a collection of many attractive houseplants, including Cebu blue and Baltic blue.
Epipremnum Pinnatum is not just a name for a plant genus. It is also sold as an individual plant, usually referred to as the “normal” Epipremnum Pinnatum.
Despite the obvious differences, many collectors and even some sellers easily mistake the Epipremnum Pinnatum for the Cebu blue.
If you are interested in correctly identifying each plant, this Cebu blue vs. Epipremnum Pinnatum article will help you. We will dig deeper into the differences and features of each topical plant.
Table of Contents
What is Cebu Blue?
The botanical name of this plant is Epipremnum Pinnatum (Cebu blue). Its name indicates it is a member of the Epipremnum Pinnatum genus. However, it is commonly called “Cebu blue pothos.”
This is another common misconception about the Cebu blue, as it was never a pothos. As the name implies, this plant is native to the Philippine island of Cebu.
The Cebu blue is not considered a rare plant but remains unique. It is a vine grower, so it can climb or trail.
The secret behind the popularity of this plan is its stunningly beautiful evergreen foliage. Its leaves reflect a bluish-silver shade. Also, they are oval with a narrow, slim shape.
The leaves of the Cebu blue have a lance-shaped appearance. These leaves have no fenestrations. However, if the plant is fully mature and receives decent levels of indirect sunlight, it might develop some splits and fenestrations. As an indoor climber, this plant can reach a height of 3 meters.
What is Epipremnum Pinnatum?
Epipremnum Pinnatum is not only the name of an entire genus. It is currently used to refer to the most common variety of this genus. Growers and gardeners commonly refer to it as Epipremnum Pinnatum.
In the wild, this plant grows up to 50 meters. However, it will be at most 4 meters as an indoor plant.
As a fully mature plant, its leaves become strictly pinnate. These lobed leaves explain the common confusion between this plant and many philodendrons and Rhaphidophoras.
This normal Epipremnum Pinnatum is also a vining plant. You can grow it as a trailing plant or a climber. But, it does well as a climber with proper support.
This tropical houseplant loves humidity and high temperatures. It is not a cold-hardy plant. So, you should not grow it below 10 degrees Celsius.
This plant thrives best when the temperature ranges between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius. It is native to the tropical areas of Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. It is also commonly found in Oceania.
Differences between Cebu blue and Epipremnum Pinnatum
The “normal” Epipremnum Pinnatum is often mislabeled as the Cebu blue plant. These two plants are somehow similar yet not identical. You can easily spot their differences throughout their life cycles.
Their leaf details are very revealing if you concentrate on them.
1. Natural habitat
Despite being members of the same tropical plant genus, they do not grow in the same areas. Cebu blue is only native to Cebu Island. It is unlikely to be found in other parts of the Philippines.
The Epipremnum Pinnatum plant, on the other hand, is native to various parts of Southeast Asia and Pacific countries.
2. Leaf texture
The visible veins found on the surface of Cebu Blue leaves are absent in Epipremnum Pinnatum leaves. This makes the former have softer leaves, while the latter has bumpier ones.
3. Leaf fenestrations
The Cebu blue plant won’t develop any split or fenestrated leaves in the juvenile phase. These splits might only appear on very mature plants.
Epipremnum Pinnatum, on the other hand, can have split leaves as a young plant.
4. Leaf color
The color of the leaves is another obvious way to tell these two plants apart. You can quickly settle this Cebu blue and Epipremnum Pinnatum comparison by looking at the colors. Both plants have green leaves. However, their shades are different.
The regular Epipremnum Pinnatum has obvious dark green leaves. The Cebu blue plant’s leaves primarily reflect a silvery blue cast. Putting both leaves side by side will reveal this obvious difference.
5. Leaf size
Another defining mark in this comparison is the size of the leaves. The leaves of Epipremnum Pinnatum grow much larger than those of the Cebu blue.
The leaves of a fully mature Epipremnum Pinnatum Cebu blue won’t exceed 11 cm long. The mature leaves of the regular Epipremnum Pinnatum range in length between 40 and 50 cm.
6. Leaf shape
At the juvenile stage, the leaves of both plants look different in terms of physical appearance. Young Cebu blue leaves are more rounded and have a heart-shaped appearance. On the other hand, the leaves of young Epipremnum Pinnatum are more oval.
As both plants grow, the leaves of the Cebu blue become more elongated. The leaves of a mature Epipremnum Pinnatum become more split and end up completely pinnate.
7. Growth speed
The growth rates and speeds are other points where the two plants go separately. The Epipremnum Pinnatum plant is a rapid grower.
You can propagate and repot it annually. On the other hand, the Cebu blue plant is a slow grower. It takes more than 10 years for it to reach maturity.
8. Price
As a result of the completely different growth rates, both plants end up costing differently. The regular Epipremnum Pinnatum is much cheaper than the Cebu blue plant.
Because it grows quickly, Epipremnum Pinnatum can be propagated more frequently. So, it is always a good supply, unlike the Cebu blue.
Cebu blue vs Epipremnum Pinnatum: are they the same?
No, Cebu blue and Epipremnum Pinnatum are not the same plants. They carry some close characteristics due to being from the same genus. However, you can easily spot obvious differences by looking at their leaves. Their differences become more visible if you look at them simultaneously.
The Cebu Blue Plant can only be found on the Cebu Islands, whereas Epipremnum Pinnatum grows naturally in various tropical areas throughout Asia and the Pacific Islands.
The Epipremnum Pinnatum leaves are smoother, whereas the Cebu Blue leaves have more texture.
The leaves of the Cebu blue have a silverish blue shade, while those of the normal Epipremnum Pinnatum are deep green.
The Cebu blue might develop fenestrated leaves at maturity, but the Epipremnum Pinnatum can have them at a very young age.
As young plants, Epipremnum Pinnatum is larger and more oval than the Cebu blue leaves. Grown Epipremnum Pinnatum leaves are partially or entirely pinnate, whereas most Cebu blue leaves remain entire and become more oblong.
In terms of growth rates, Epipremnum Pinnatum grows much faster than Cebu blue. Last but not least, the prices of both plants are not even close, as the Cebu blue is way more expensive.
